Who are you?

Chapter three.

                 West

The harmless-scaredy- look, wiped off my face, once the door shut close. I stared down at the thick black duvet, wondering why I'd done what I did.

I hadn't been drunk last night. Inwardly praising myself for pulling off the plan of luring him in, by pretending to be in trouble, my breath had hitched, when I'd seen his face.

In my twenty five years of life, I hadn't seen someone look so ruggedly handsome. His pale face held that strength to it, that couldn't be ignored. Even his voice commanded respect.

Well, to get what I want, I had to give up something. And did I regret sleeping with him? Maybe. He was every inch a conceited fool.

I clambered off the bed, and hurried to the bathroom. It was time to wash up, and take a look around the glass house.

Italy was a beautiful place. When I'd arrived a fortnight ago, I'd been awed by how beautiful it looked. I hadn't rented a condo. Dante wasn't foolish, and although I knew he'd looked into my background, I wasn't fazed.

Every traces of me, had been erased. Although I didn't know why I'd told him my real name.

For days, I'd watched and trailed him, without appearing to. I'd tried hacking into any of the systems, but it hadn't worked.

That wouldn't be a problem now, though. I could finally drop a harmless virus, and leave it lying dormant, till it was time.

Now…all I had to do, was find the perfect place and time, to do it.

                      ***

I pulled the coat even tighter around me, as I strolled along the large brightened hallway. I observed everything, without pretending to.

I had gotten the coat, from the walk-in closet in the large bedroom, which I suspected to be the masters-bedroom.

It smelt good. Like him.

I rolled my eyes out of boredom, while wondering for the umpteenth time, what kind of drug Fausto had been high on, when he pushed me out on this mission. I hated pretence. I hated being weak. I thrived in bloodshed, in adrenaline boosting missions. And he knew it.

“You know, I haven't met someone as interesting as you are.” I heard the so familiar voice, behind me, and I whirled to a stop. The same voice that'd grunted and groaned out of pleasure, last night. The same voice that'd spurred me on, by whispering 'good girl,' until I'd came so hard. The same voice that'd wished me goodnight, while I'd pretended to fall into a drunken sleep.

 I gently turned, and met his gaze. In the morning light, with his fresh cleanly shaved face, Dante could give a male model a run for his money. I shook my head, pushing the thoughts out of my head.

'Rule 1- Never fall in love, with a target. Do well to remember that, West.' I heard Fausto's cold voice in my head. When I'd gone on my first mission ever, those had been his words.

“Why do you say so?” I crossed my arms, as I stood a safe distance from him. In quick strides, he was in front of me.

He tilted my jaw with a finger, and our gazes locked. 

“I told you to leave.” He said, narrowing his eyes.

My heart skipped a beat, at our proximity. I could smell his breath. 

“And I told you, I had nowhere to go.” Infusing an appropriate amount of softness in my tone, I waited for him to cave in.

It'd always worked on every other victim I'd handled. Just act all scared, and submissive, and boom. Their Alpha mode would be activated.

Seeing the cold glint in his eyes, however, doused cold water on my thoughts. If I hadn't realized who I was dealing with before, I finally did. This wasn't the man who'd fucked me with reckless abandon, last night.

This was the Capo of the most powerful 'Ndrangheta in Italy. Capo Dante.

“You don't? That's interesting.”A smirk finally crossed his face. It wasn't after he let go of my jaw, did I realize he hadn't let go, all along.

He pulled away, tucking his hands in his pockets, his gaze never leaving mine. Under his gaze, I flinched. I felt vulnerable, like he could see right through me. Like he could tell I wasn't who I was pretending to be. And I wasn't even pretending, this time. That realization made a numb sensation creep around my heart.

“I don't. And if you're gentlemanly, you'd offer me a place to stay. Like you said, you want to even out things between us.” I straightened, boldly holding his gaze.

Silence reigned just for a short while, before he broke into a mirthless laughter.

“Grenade,” He took a step forward, making me move back a bit. 

“In Italy, you don't negotiate with a man. A woman should know her place.” An annoying smirk plastered itself on his face, and I fought the urge to wipe it off.

“Really? And where's a woman's place?” I retorted.

“Do you want to know?” He lowered his head, just to my eye level, and I stifled a gasp.

“A woman's place is in her man's home. Taking care of his house, and children. She should never question him.” He replied.

Suddenly wishing that I'd heard him wrongly, I almost burst into laughter. Couldn't he hear how ridiculous he sounded?  

“So sorry, Dante. If you think I'm all those little housewives you're familiar with, in Italy, then you must be mistaken.” Every single admiration I had towards him, wiped off at that moment.

He was nothing but a conceited fool. A woman's place was in a man's house? Sure, I could prove that with a punch to his sinfully handsome face.

His face closed up, and he grabbed my neck in one swift move. Instincts kicked in, and I almost dodged his move, but at the last minute, I stood still.

“Listen well, Grenade-” He began, but I cut him off.

“My name's West.” I hissed.

He went on, like I didn't say anything. “I could end your life, with just a flick of my finger. Aren't you afraid?” He added force on his grip, and I pretended to gasp.

Afraid? I almost scoffed. No, I wasn't afraid. All I wanted to do, was hit the asshole's foot so hard, that'd he'd yelp in pain.

“You saved me last night. You can't be that bad.” I forced the words out, through gritted teeth.

Chuckling, he pulled away. “I could let you stay. But you have to answer my question.” A cold gleam flashed across his eyes.

I nodded.

He moved so fast, that even with my years of training, I knew I wouldn't be able to pull off such a swift move. I was in his arms within seconds, staring at him with parted lips.

“I had my men look into you. And oddly enough, they didn't find anything intriguing. But you surely don't look like a plain woman.” His touch scorched my skin, through the coat, and I was more dismayed at the fact that I didn't want to pull away, than at the fact that he was holding me too close. 

“What are you trying to say?” I whispered.

Tightening his hold on my waist, he bent and whispered coldly, “Who are you?”